Local authority search wait times have extended beyond four months in some parts of the UK, with industry figures warning that prolonged delays are contributing to property transaction failures.
Bracknell Forest Council currently records the longest average turnaround time in the country at 92 working days, primarily attributed to significant IT system failures. The authority has experienced an increase of 85 working days compared to two years ago.
Regional variations
The London boroughs of Camden and Merton, alongside Rochdale Council, now average 52 working days for search completion. Merton has seen its processing time increase by 42 working days since 2024.
Tonbridge & Malling Council reports average turnarounds of 47 working days following a 42-day increase, whilst North East Derbyshire Council, North Somerset Council, Oxford City Council and Tamworth Council all require 42 working days on average.
Market impact
Chris Hodgkinson, managing director at House Buyer Bureau, stated that delays during legal stages are becoming a significant factor in sales failing to reach exchange. The extended timeframes are placing pressure on property chains, particularly as investors adjust their strategies in response to market conditions.
The delays come as the sector faces broader operational challenges, with technology implementation across the industry under increasing scrutiny.
Digitisation efforts
The Land Registry launched a pilot initiative last year involving up to seven local councils in England and Wales to examine how digitised records of building regulations and highways schemes could improve search processes.
This programme operates alongside the ongoing digitisation and phased migration of local land charge searches from local authorities to the Land Registry. Approximately one-third of councils have completed the transition to date.
The extended search times represent a significant operational challenge for the property market, with transaction delays potentially affecting completion rates and market liquidity across affected regions.
